Artificial sliding-hill



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. ALEXANDER.

ARTIFICIAL 'SLIDING HILL. N0.269,554. P nted Dec. 26, 1882.

N4 PETERS. Pholo-Lilhugnphnn Walhinglnn, B c.

( Mudel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. ALEXANDER.

ARTIFICIAL SLIDINGHILL.

No. 269,554. Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

HGA.

FIG-.8. FIG.9.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ALEXANDER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARTIFICIAL SLIDING- HILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'No. 269,554, datedDecember 26, 1882.

Application filed March 31, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ALEXANDER, of Cambridge, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Artificial Sliding- Hills, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in artificial sliding-hills whichmay be in condition for use all the year round, but are es peciallyadapted during the heated or milder seasons of the year.

The invention consists in constructing the I hill with grooved ways ortrack, to be used in latter are drawn to the top of the hill again,

either with or without their occupants.

The invention further consists in certain details more fully hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of asliding-hill embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of thesame. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of the hill. Fig.4 is a planview of one of the starting-tables. Fig. 5 is a section on line 3 y ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section ot'a sled designed for use withthe sliding-hill. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the sled. Fig.8 is aview of the device attached to the sled for engaging with the hooks onthe endless belt. Fig. 9 represents a device t'or disengaging the hooks.Fig. 10 represents a buffer placed on the rear of the sled. Fig. 11 is aside view of the brake attached to the sled. Fig. 12 is a plan or topview of the same. Fig. 13 is a modification of the method of arrangingthe endless belt.

A is a platform, supported upon a suitable frame-work of any desiredsize or height. From one side of the platform A descends an inclinedplane, B, to a point near the ground, when it ascends in the oppositedirection, as shown at B, so as to check the velocity of the sled. Theinclined plane B is constructed with one or more grooved ways, 0, asshown in Fig. 3, and on each side of the ways 0 are grooves O O, inwhich the feathers g g on a sled (see Fig. 7) engage, as hereinafterexplained. In the center of each of the ways U is fitted aguide, D,which is grooved longitudinally on its upper surface, as seen in Fig. 3.

The grooved ways extend from the top of thethe down-tracks to lessen thefriction, and thus give additional velocity to the sleds.

At the bottom, on the curved portion ot'thc track, are placed rollers Ffor the sleds to travel on, thus reducing the friction. These rollers Idesign to make beveled inwardly, so as to cause the sleds to keep thetrack in turning the curve. I also place rollers on the return'coursefor the purpose of reducing the friction, thus requiring less power todraw up the sleds. On the platform A are also placed beveled rollerssimilar tothose at the bottom.

The rollers may be driven by power, it desired, and the ways 0, I preferto make of metal.

The starting-table I, Figs. at and 5, is made ofmetal or wood hinged tothe front edge of the platform. Upon this tableare fitted side pieces,i, provided with grooves corresponding to the grooves in the downwardways. This table is elevated at the rear by means of a hand-lever, J,fixed on a rod, L, to which is attached a cam or lever, K, under thecenter of the table, so that'by moving the lever J the table is raisedso as to bring its surface to the same inclined plane as the downwardcourse. When the sled leaves the table I the latter assumes a levelposition.

On the shaft, carried in suitable bearings under the platform A, anddriven by any desired power, is fixed the pulley N. At the lower end ofthe hill is also fitted a pulley, 0, over which pulleys passes theendless chain,rope, or

belt M, which is provided with suitable hooks for taking into a deviceon the under side of the sleds, so as to allow them to be drawn up bythe belt. I have shown the endless belt slightly out of the center ofthe track; but it might be placed in the center of the grooved guide, asshown in Fig. 13.

By the side of the curved portions of the tracks, at the bottom of theinclined plane, I provide hand ropes or rails H, the object of theseropes or rails being to enable the occupant of the sled to check thespeed at which he is going; or, if the velocity of the sled should notbe sufficient to carry him round to the endless belt, he can take holdof the rail and thus draw himself along, so thatone of the books cancatch the sled and carry it up.

The runners Q of the sleds Q, I make of wood or metal rounded at bothends, and on the sides are fitted feathers q q, to take into the groovesof the ways 0, for the purpose of preventing the sleds from leaving orbeing thrown fromthe track. At or near the rear of the under part of thesledisfitteda rolleror wheel, a, which runs in the groove of the centerguide, D but the grooves in the downtracks are so deep that the roller adoes not touch; but when the sled reaches the curve at the lower portionof the course the roller a then bears on the bottom of the groove in thecenter guide, D.

On the bottom of the sled is also fitted a device, Fig. 8, for the hookson the endless belt M to take into. This device is composed of two metaljaws, 00, attached to a piece of metal, I), which is firmly secured tothe sled. These jaws overlap each other at the lower ends, as shown, andare held in position by means of a spiral or other spring, (I. Theobject of this device is that when in its normal position a hook, comingin contact with it, cannot passby, but carries the device with ituntilitcomes into contact with another device, It, (shown in Fig. 9,)which is placed at the top of the return-course, the points 0 e enteringthe space between the jaws c c, and as the jaws slide over the edges ofthe plate 5 they are forced open, so as to allow the hook to passthrough. The plate S is supported by two standards,f f, secured to thefloor of the platform A. These standardsff are far enough apart to allowthe endless belt M to pass freely between them.

At the front of the sled I provide a brake, (see Fig. 11 and 12,) whichis composed of two clamping jaws, gg, at the end of levers h 71 Theselevers cross each other-and are pivoted together atj. The outer ends ofthe levers h h are provided with eyes k, to which is connected the rod mby the bars or links I l. The rod at has a screw-thread, which works'iuthe nut 02, so that asthe hand-wheel p is turned in one direction therod m is raised and the eyes I: 7.- brought closer together. and thejaws g 9 caused to grip the center guide, D, and when the hand-wheel isturned in the opposite direction the jaws g g are opened and pass freeof the guide.

. At the back of each of the sleds I place a butter, (shown enlarged inFig. 10,) the head i being of leather, fitted to a bell-mouth piece, 8,connected to the plate t, which is made to fit and is screwed onto thesled.

Stairs P are provided for access to or from the platform A, and stairs Ifor access to or from the lower part of the inclined plane.

\Vhenin use a sled is placed on one of the starting-tablesI.Thecorrespondinglever,J,is then operated, which raises the table I tothe same angle as the inclined plane. The sled then slides down thegrooved ways until it comes to the bottom of the bill, when it turns thecurve on the upward incline, which tends to break the velocity. When itreaches the top of the incline itagain descends until it comes intoposition for a hook on the endless belt M to take into the device on thebottom of the sled, which is thus carried up to thetop of the bill andonto the platform A, when it is disengaged by the device shown at Fig.9, and the hook is free to pass. The attendant then pushes the sledalong the curved guides on the platform to the starting-table, when thejourney is again resumed without the occupants being obliged to leavethe sled.

Although I have shown three down courses and one return conrse, I wouldhave it understood that any number may be used, and. instead of havingthe return-course on one side, there might be one on each side or at thecenter.

The sliders can walk up the stairs P to the platform A, or they canascend by the stairs P and be drawn up in a sled. A level space of anydesirable length may be interposed between the lower end of the mainhill and the upward incline before passing upon the curve. Differentportions of the bill may be more or less inclined than other portions,if'desirable. A roof or covering may be placed over the platform A, ifdesired.

vWhat I claim as my invention isl. The combination, with the inclinedplane B, of the grooved ways 0 and the side grooves, O (1, as and forthe purpose specified.

The combination, with the grooved ways 0, of the center guide, D, as setforth.

3. The combination, with thegrooved ways 0 and side grooves, C C, of asled or carriage, Q, having runners QQ, provided with feathers g g,which engage with the said side grooves,substantially as shown anddescribed.

4. The brake composed of the clamping-jaws g g, the levers h h, theconnecting-links l l, rod m, and haud-wheelp, as and for the purpose setforth.

5. In a sliding hill, the combination,with the inclined plane 13,provided with grooved ways 0, of a return-way provided with an endlesschain or belt havin hooks which engage with loops on the sleds, wherebythe sleds, with or without their occupants, are drawn up to the platformA, substantially as specified.

6. The hinged table I, arranged at the top of the incline B, andoperated by means of a lever to adjust the said table to the level ofthe platform A or tilt it to an incline corresponding with the inclineplane B, substantially as set forth.

7. In a sliding hill, the combination, with an endless chain or band, M,provided with hooks, of a loop, 0, attached to a sled or carriage, as

- and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination, with the curved grooved ways of the track, of thebeveled friction-rollers, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The hook detacher R, in combination I with the jaws c a, as and forthe purpose set forth.

10. The wheel or roller (1. on the under part of the sled, incombination with the grooved I 5 guide D, as and for the purposespecified.

11. The sled provided with an attachingloop, a brake, a buffer, andprojections or feathers at the outer sides of the runners, as and forthe purpose specified. 20

In testimony whereofIhave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

J os. H. ADAMS, E. PLANTA.

